Dustin Johnson is one of the top players in the golfing community. The four-time “Number 1” golfer made it into the top 10 at the 2023 US Open held at Los Angeles Country Club. There has been a lot of controversy with respect to the venue for the event but the PGA Pro golfer seems to have a positive perspective despite what other players and fans have to say about the LACC.
Dustin felt he gave it his best shot
Since the beginning of the 2023 US Open, several top players, including Matthew Fitzpatrick, said they are “Not a fan” of the golf course. Pro golfers such as Viktor Hovland, Brooks Koepka and others claimed the LACC North Course, hosting a major for the first time, isn’t the best in terms of pace and holes. The Cheetah seems to have a slightly different opinion though.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
After the US Open championship came to an end on Sunday, reporters asked Dustin Johnson how he felt about making it into the top 10 of yet another major tournament. The 2016-US Open winner seems to be feeling better despite the stress he felt through the past few days.
“I played really, really nicely I felt like. Just didn’t hole any putts was the key,” he said in response. “For me, I hit it really nice.”
With experience comes understanding and Johnson seems to comprehend that all one can do is give their best shot and hope everything works out. He doesn’t blame himself or the golf course saying, “I?hit a lot of great shots, gave myself lots of opportunities for birdie. Just didn’t hole enough putts.”
When asked about his opinion of the LACC golf course, Johnson’s response contradicted that of most of his cohorts. “Yeah, I thought it was great. Course was fantastic.”
He went on to add, “It was awesome being right here in the middle of Los Angeles and right in the middle of Beverly Hills. Felt like it was a great setting for the U.S. Open, and it turned out to be a really good championship.”
Earlier this week, Dustin was encouraged by his wife Paulina Gretzky to keep up his enthusiasm. He seemed tensed about winning the title. However, now that the US Open has come to an end, and the stress bid adieu, Johnson is feeling grateful to have given his best shot and made it to the top 10.
LACC may have overcome the unnerving firmness issue in the last couple of days
Earlier in the year, when the venue was disclosed for the 2023 US Open, several players expressed their delight over playing at the Los Angeles Country Club in Beverly Hills. The location is as elite as the sport itself and it raised anticipation over being able to putt and swing at the prestigious golf course.
Pro players such as Max Homa, Rory McIlroy, Matthew Fitzpatrick, Tommy Fleetwood, Adam Scott, and others were preparing and looking forward to the championship.
However, when the event started, many fans and golfers were disappointed with the course. Despite the modifications made to the venue in terms of expanding fairways and the firmness variable, it was not to everyone’s liking. Viktor Hovland stated: “There’s many bad holes,” and “There’s no great holes.”
Brooks Koepka took a strong stand against the proximity of the Country Club to the urban areas, which hindered gameplay. He also said that the course seemed such that no matter what shot they took, sometimes the ball ended up in a particular place. The five-time champion seemed truly unnerved by his own performance, especially when he missed the shot at 9, where?“You can’t miss,” he said.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Nevertheless, as the event progressed, the course seemed to get better in terms of firmness. Dustin also explained why the complaints arose in the first place, “The last couple days it was firm and fast and it was all you wanted for a golf course.”
Seems like The Cheetah really had a brighter view of the grounds and everything that LACC had to offer to the sport. He seems genuinely happy to have finally played the course even if he lost the winning title to Wyndham Clark. True to form, he chose to let go of the negativity and focused on having played in the center of Beverly Hills, which he loved. There are better things on the horizon he sees.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
What are your opinions about the Los Angeles Country Club’s golf course? Do you think there’s merit to the grievances put forth by the other pros? Share your opinions with us below.
Watch this Story: Unstirred by the whopping 36-million prize, Rory Mcilroy expressed his dream of fulfilling a tradition which remained unfulfilled for 7 years